South Africa could have change of heart over White

Jake White, who had been expected to lose his job as South Africa coach when his contract runs out at the end of the year, may find himself the unexpected beneficiary of a sea change in mood that became evident yesterday when the World Cup winners touched down to an ecstatic welcome in Johannesburg.

The proposed departure of White was expected to be followed by the break-up of the team in order to make way for as many as 10 black players in what the government considered would be a more racially representative team, only two of the side that won the cup having been non-white.

But yesterday the president, Thabo Mbeki, reflected a shift in sentiment in South Africa by suggesting that the victorious coach should stay, a timely intervention given that Australia said they would consider him as a replacement for their own departed coach, John Connolly.

"It would indeed be odd that, in the moment of victory, which comes after a long period of preparation, you say, 'Thank you for your services White, goodbye'," Mbeki told Metro FM radio. "Here is this team that went right through the tournament without losing a game. We end up with the player of the year, the coach of the year and the team of the year. Drop the coach - why?"

SA Rugby weighed in on the same lines, saying: "This team has developed excellence and we need to enhance this group, not destroy it. We must build on what we've attained."

SA Rugby had advertised White's coaching job in the week before the semi-final against Argentina. White himself said he needed to time to consider his future. "Obviously I want to be coaching rugby, but at the moment everything's on such a high that you could make a decision that's not the best for everyone."